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Nike+ GPS adds Facebook cheering

Nike has released an update to Nike+ GPS adding social networking integration. In addition to allowing users to share their runs via Facebook and Twitter, the new version also introduces a new Cheer Me On feature that allows users to post on Facebook that they are going on a run and then receive mid-run encouragement in the form of notifications each time a friend comments on their status. Other new features allow users to view their best runs from within the app and push past their goals by playing one more PowerSong. Nike+ GPS is designed primarily for iPhone users but also supports the iPod touch without the mapping capabilities. Nike+ GPS requires iOS 4.0 or later and is available from the App Store for $2.

Comments

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While it supposedly has the ability to keep running in the background via multitasking, it isn’t exactly the case.

I placed a call via voicedial using my headset while on a jog, it turns out this shuts off the program without warning. To make matters worse, it doesn’t turn back on after the call is finished.

It grabs onto your iPod functionality with steel claws and doesn’t let go. If you stop music playback using the iPod interface, a voice alerts you that you’ve paused your workout. I thought to get around this, I could start a workout with the ‘no music’ option, open the iPod program and use it independently of the Nike program, but it immediately latches onto to the fact that you’ve started music going and if you pause audio in this scenario, you’ve again ‘paused your workout’. I regularly switch between an internet radio app and the iPod program when I jog — using Nike+ GPS, this isn’t possible.

I’d much rather have the option to run Nike+ GPS in the background and have it track my workout while controlling music playback completely separate of Nike+ GPS. Having the 2 so tightly integrated has me putting this app on the shelf for now in hopes of more intuitive functionality in a future update. That Nike+ GPS stops running completely if you make or answer a call greatly adds to the annoying quality of the software.

In use, I like the female voice that gives you a summary of what you’ve done so far at each mile — but the encouraging words from some male sports personality really needs to go.

It looks pretty, but is very annoying to use — definitely shouldn’t be promoted as a multitasking capable product…

Posted by benjitek on October 14, 2010 at 6:14 AM (CDT)

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benjitek ... if it were on droid, it would be free, and would actually work.